Joseph Gatt is used to playing the bad guy. With his striking chrome dome, high cheekbones, and thin eyebrows, it’s no wonder that Gatt has been typecast as a villain. He’s tried to kill Thor as a Frost Giant, and he’s terrorized various heroes as countless Russian mercenaries. But in Dumbo, his villain Neils Skellig (the psychotic hunter and right-hand man of Michael Keaton’s ruthless circus entrepreneur V.A. Vandemere) hits a little closer to home.

“I’m very anti-hunting and I’m involved in a lot of charities and work against hunting and big-game hunting,” Gatt said in an interview from the set of Dumbo in September 2017. “So I know a lot of people that I can reference this particular character to. None that I would want to be friends with or recommend be friends with.” But there is one influence on his character who a few people would like to be friends with: Darth Vader. “The way I like to describe Skellig, Neils Skellig, is if you imagine Michael Keaton’s character is the Emperor, I’m Darth Vader,” Gatt said. “So basically he’s the more powerful [guy] in charge of everything, and I just do his bidding.”

On /Film’s visit to the set of Dumbo, we sat down with Gatt to talk his dynamic with Keaton, and why they’re doing more than acting opposite a tennis ball.

The Bad Robot offices are what your film company would look like if you owned one. Old movie posters and cool art decorate the walls. Props are strategically placed in the hallways. Offices are adorned with cool toys and images. There are two gorgeous outdoor spaces to chill in and it even has a secret name on the outside. Oh, hey, there’s J.J. Abrams walking around.

The head of the company is currently directing the follow-up to his 2009 hit Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, which reunites his surviving original cast and adds new blood in the form of the mysterious Benedict Cumberbatch, and Alice Eve. The film is written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof, will feature a score by Michael Giacchino, and has plenty of new aliens and action scenes for fans to enjoy.

Abrams and his team invited several journalists to their offices on December 10 to learn about the film’s props, costumes, makeup, music, and visual effects. From those presentations, we picked 15 cool things you didn’t yet know about production and story of Star Trek Into Darkness. Details on the Japanese trailer, klingons, character names, IMAX 3D, and lots about Giacchino can all be found below, along with more info about the Bad Robot offices. Read More »

The theatrical adventures of the Starship Enterprise finally continue this week. Speaking at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, director J.J. Abrams confirmed Star Trek 2 will begin shooting on film January 12, with a 3D post-conversion planned for post-production. But that’s not all.

Abrams also talked about the film’s relation to the original series, and two new cast members – Thor actor Joseph Gatt and 24 actress Nazneen Contractor – were announced. Another new addition, Benedict Cumberbatch, spoke about his excitement level joining the highly anticipated May 17, 2013 sequel. Read all the quotes, roles and more after the jump. Read More »